Cambridge City Council is applying to the High Court for an injunction to ban punt businesses from using Garret Hostel Lane to access the River Cam - after years spent trying to tackle the problem.

If the High Court grants the injunction anyone caught breaching it may be guilty of contempt of court and could face a term of imprisonment, or a financial penalty, or both.

The council’s riverside land on Garret Hostel Lane is not an authorised punt station and does not have planning permission or approval from the Cam Conservators. The council says it is being used without authority or permission by unlicensed punt businesses.

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An injunction from the court would close off this location in the city centre area where unlicensed punt businesses operate from.

A council spokesperson said: “We are applying for this injunction as the landowner, to stop council land being used by unlicensed punt businesses.

“These businesses have created problems for pedestrians and cyclists by obstructing the highway and the anti-social behaviour of some of the touts working in this unauthorised activity are well known.

Punters enjoying the River Cam in Cambridge in June 2016

"We have exhausted other ways of controlling these businesses over a number of years and a High Court injunction is now our next option.

“In the meantime, our public realm enforcement team will continue to work with the police and other partners, to take enforcement action in line with the PSPO which is aimed at addressing unacceptable punt touting in the city.”

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The council say the presence of this unapproved punt station often causes congestion in the narrow lane, which is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists, putting them and the prospective punt customers at risk of injury.